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United States Patent |
6,182,394
|
Bassler
|
February 6, 2001
|
Plant watering device
Abstract
A plant watering device is disclosed which includes a planter tray having
an upper surface for supporting potted plants. The planter tray has a
plurality of legs depending downwardly from the upper surface with the
upper surface located above a bottom wall of a water container. The water
container has an open top, closed side walls and a closed bottom wall
which define a reservoir to receive water or water mixed with plant food.
The water container includes deep recessed pockets in the bottom wall of
the water container positioned to receive and support the legs of the
planter tray when the planter tray is in a lower watering position. The
water container also includes shallow recessed pockets in the bottom wall
of said water container positioned to receive and support the legs of the
planter tray when the planter tray is in an upper drainage position. When
the planter tray is manually moved to the lower watering position, potted
plants supported on the planter tray are partially submersed to allow
watering thereof. When the planter tray is manually moved to the upper
drainage position, potted plants supported on the planter tray are located
completely above the liquid.
Inventors:
|
Bassler; Louis M. (400 Jordan Ave., Montoursville, PA 17754)
|
Appl. No.:
|
276241 |
Filed:
|
March 25, 1999 |
Current U.S. Class: |
47/65.5; 47/75; 47/79 |
Intern'l Class: |
A01G 009/02 |
Field of Search: |
47/79,65.5,62 R,87,75
|
References Cited
U.S. Patent Documents
D259777 | Jul., 1981 | Ehrreich | 54/50.
|
D278075 | Mar., 1985 | Dryen | 431/120.
|
D278076 | Mar., 1985 | Dryen | 310/112.
|
D352480 | Nov., 1994 | Carlson | D11/153.
|
661411 | Nov., 1900 | Lonitz | 47/65.
|
3604150 | Sep., 1971 | Baumann | 47/79.
|
4167080 | Sep., 1979 | Mickelson | 47/71.
|
4189867 | Feb., 1980 | Schneck | 47/62.
|
4198784 | Apr., 1980 | Sukert | 47/79.
|
4226048 | Oct., 1980 | Molnar | 47/81.
|
4336666 | Jun., 1982 | Caso | 47/48.
|
4553352 | Nov., 1985 | Powell | 47/71.
|
4850134 | Jul., 1989 | Snekkenes | 47/18.
|
5179800 | Jan., 1993 | Huang | 47/73.
|
5282335 | Feb., 1994 | Holtkamp, Jr. | 47/81.
|
5444940 | Aug., 1995 | White-Wexler et al. | 47/82.
|
6108971 | Aug., 2000 | Zaremba | 47/65.
|
Foreign Patent Documents |
2557760 | Jan., 1984 | FR.
| |
2568446 | Aug., 1984 | FR.
| |
Primary Examiner: Poon; Peter M.
Assistant Examiner: Nelson; Judith A.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Shaffer, Esq.; Thomas R.
Claims
I claim:
1. A plant watering device comprising:
a planter tray having an upper surface for supporting potted plants and
having a plurality of legs depending downwardly from said upper surface,
said planter tray sized and configured to be received and supported by
said legs in a manner whereby said upper surface is located above a bottom
wall of a water container;
a water container having an open top and closed side walls and a closed
bottom wall which define a reservoir to receive a liquid, said water
container sized to receive said planter tray;
lower supporting means located in the bottom wall of said water container
and located at a first lower elevational position, said lower supporting
means adapted to receive and support the legs of said planter tray such
that the planter tray is positioned in a lower watering position; and
upper supporting means located in the bottom wall of said water container
located at a second upper elevational position, said upper supporting
means adapted to receive and support the legs of said planter tray such
that the planter tray is positioned in an upper position, whereby when
said planter tray is manually moved to said lower position, potted plants
supported on said planter tray will be partially submersed in said liquid
to allow watering thereof and when said planter tray is manually moved to
said upper drainage position, potted plants supported on said planter tray
will be located completely above said liquid.
2. A plant watering device according to claim 1 wherein said planter tray
has a plurality of holes provided in the upper surface thereof.
3. A plant watering device according to claim 2 wherein said holes are
sized to provide access to human fingers to allow positioning and moving
of the planter tray.
4. A plant watering device according to claim 2 wherein said holes allow
passage of water vapor from water or liquid contained in said water
container to reach potted plants supported on said upper surface.
5. A plant watering device according to claim 1 wherein said planter tray
is generally square in shape and has at least four legs, with one leg
located at each corner of said planter tray.
6. A plant watering device according to claim 1 wherein said planter tray
has at least one center leg located near the center of said planter tray.
7. A plant watering device according to claim 6 wherein at least one center
leg has a drain opening therein to allow liquid one said upper surface to
drain into said water container.
8. A plant watering device according to claim 1 wherein the upper surface
of said planter tray is formed to provide a plurality of channels therein
to provide additional structural strength to said upper surface.
9. A plant watering device according to claim 1 wherein the upper surface
of said planter tray is formed to provide a plurality of drainage channels
therein with at least one drain opening in at least one of said drainage
channels to allow liquid on said upper surface to drain into said water
container.
10. A plant watering device according to claim 9 wherein at least some of
said drainage channels extend radially outwardly from the center of said
upper surface of said planter tray and wherein a drain opening is provided
at the center of said upper surface in a drainage channel.
11. A plant watering device according to claim 9 wherein at least some of
said drainage channels are provided at locations parallel to outside
perimeter edges of said upper surface of the planter tray.
12. A plant watering device according to claim 9 wherein both small
drainage channels and large drainage channels are provided wherein the
small drainage channels empty into the large drainage channels and wherein
said at least one drain opening provided in at least one of said large
channels.
13. A plant watering device according to claim 1 said planter tray is
formed of an injection molded material comprising at least one of
polypropylene, polyethylene, and polystyrene.
14. A plant watering device according to claim 1 wherein said water
container is formed of a blow molded material comprising at least one of
polypropylene, polyethylene, and polystyrene.
15. A plant watering device according to claim 1 wherein said water
container is integrally formed to include said lower supporting means and
said upper supporting means.
16. A plant watering device according to claim 1 wherein said upper
supporting means comprises shallow recessed pockets in the bottom wall of
said water container, said shallow recessed pockets positioned to receive
and support the legs of said planter tray when said planter tray is in an
upper drainage position.
17. A plant watering device according to claim 1 wherein said lower
supporting means comprises deep recessed pockets in the bottom wall of
said water container, said deep recessed pockets positioned to receive and
support the legs of said planter tray when said planter tray is in a lower
watering position.
18. A plant watering device according to claim 1 wherein said lower
supporting means comprises deep recessed pockets in the bottom wall of
said water container, said deep recessed pockets positioned to receive and
support the legs of said planter tray when said planter tray is in a lower
watering position, said upper supporting means comprises shallow recessed
pockets in the bottom wall of said water container, said shallow recessed
pockets positioned to receive and support the legs of said planter tray
when said planter tray is in an upper drainage position and wherein said
shallow and deep recessed pockets are located adjacent to one another.
19. A plant watering device according to claim 1 wherein said lower
supporting means comprises first leg retainers on the bottom wall of said
water container, said first leg retainers positioned to receive and
support the legs of said planter tray when said planter tray is in a lower
watering position, and said upper supporting means comprises elevated
second leg retainers extending above the bottom wall of said water
container positioned to receive and support the legs of said planter tray
when said planter tray is in an upper drainage position.
20. A plant watering device comprising:
a generally square planter tray having an upper surface for supporting
potted plants and having five legs depending downwardly from said upper
surface, said legs positioned on the four corners and in the center of
said planter tray, said planter tray sized and configured to be received
and supported by said legs in a manner whereby said upper surface is
located above a bottom wall of a water container, said upper surface of
said planter tray having a plurality of drainage channels therein with at
least one drain opening in at least one of said drainage channels to allow
liquid one said upper surface to drain into said water container;
a generally square water container having an open top and closed side walls
and a closed bottom wall which define a reservoir to receive a liquid,
lower supporting means located in the bottom wall of said water container
and located at a first lower elevational position, said lower supporting
means adapted to receive and support the legs of said planter tray such
that such planter tray is positioned in a lower position; and
upper supporting means located in the bottom wall of said water container
located at a second upper elevational position, said upper supporting
means adapted to receive and support the legs of said planter tray such
that the planter tray is positioned in an upper drainage position, wherein
said lower supporting means comprises deep recessed pockets in the bottom
wall of said water container, said deep recessed pockets positioned to
receive and support the legs of said planter tray when said planter tray
is in a lower watering position, said upper supporting means comprises
shallow recessed pockets in the bottom wall of said water container, said
shallow recessed pockets positioned to receive and support the legs of
said planter tray when said planter tray is in an upper drainage position,
whereby when said planter tray is manually moved to said lower watering
position, potted plants supported on said planter tray will be partially
submersed in said liquid to allow watering thereof and when said planter
tray is manually moved to said upper drainage position, potted plants
supported on said planter tray will be located completely above said
liquid.
21. A plant watering device according to claim 1 wherein said planter tray
and said watering container are each generally circular in shape.
22. A plant watering device according to claim 1 wherein said planter tray
and said watering container are each generally hexagonal in shape.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a plant watering device. More
specifically, it relates to a watering device having a planter tray
manually movable between an upper drainage position and a lower watering
position.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A variety of watering devices are known in the art. For example, U.S. Pat.
No. 5,282,335 discloses a complex automatic self watering dish garden for
plants which includes many separate interlocking pieces. The device relies
upon a water absorbing member which extends from the growing medium
through the bottom of the tray into the liquid holding reservoir to
effectuate watering. U.S. Pat. No. 4,226,048 also utilizes a water
transfer element to facilitate watering. U.S. Pat. No. 4,336,666 utilizes
tubular metering nozzles for this purpose. U.S. Pat. No. 4,198,784
discloses an automatic plant watering device which has upper and lower
containers. A flow regulator is provided for watering and the upper
container preferably includes drain holes to allow drainage of excess
liquid.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,553,352 discloses a plant container for draining moisture
from the soil which includes a main container and a rotatable reservoir.
Fluid is allowed to pass from the main container to the reservoir when
conduits of the reservoir are aligned with orifices in the main container.
By rotating the reservoir tray, fluid can be either drained from the soil
or stored in the reservoir tray.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,167,080 discloses a planter having a self-indexing
removable drain dish which catches water which drains from a bottom drain
hole of a potted plant. This patent does not provide a means of watering
the potter plant from the bottom of the pot. U.S. Pat. No. 5,444,940
discloses a terraced planter which provides separate plant beds in
individual compartments. The compartments have bottom holes to allow
drainage and the planter preferably provides a drip pan to catch excess
water.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,179,800 discloses a growing tray which allows for
air-pruning of plant roots. The plant tray has a surrounding edge to hold
water above the top of the tray cell or microfeeding holes for self
watering.
U.S. design Pat. Nos. D278,076; D278,075; and D259,777 disclose other plant
watering and root irrigating systems.
There remains a need for a simple, inexpensive plant watering device which
allows for the easy and convenient manual watering of potted plants.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a plant watering device which includes a
planter tray having an upper surface for supporting potted plants and
having a plurality of legs depending downwardly from said upper surface,
said planter tray sized and configured to be received and supported by
said legs in a manner whereby said upper surface is located above a bottom
wall of a water container. A water container is provided having an open
top and closed side walls and a closed bottom wall which define a
reservoir to receive a liquid, said water container is sized to receive
said planter tray. A lower supporting means is provided which is located
in the bottom wall of said water container and located at a first lower
elevational position, said lower supporting means is adapted to receive
and support the legs of said planter tray such that the planter tray is
positioned in a lower watering position. An upper supporting means is also
provided and is located in the bottom wall of said water container located
at a second upper elevational position, said upper supporting means is
adapted to receive and support the legs of said planter tray such that the
planter tray is positioned in an upper position, whereby when said planter
tray is manually moved to said lower position, potted plants supported on
said planter tray will be partially submersed in said liquid to allow
watering thereof and when said planter tray is manually moved to said
upper drainage position, potted plants supported on said planter tray will
be located completely above said liquid.
Preferably, the planter tray has a plurality of holes provided in the upper
surface thereof. Such holes are sized to provide access to human fingers
to allow positioning and moving of the planter tray. The holes also allow
the passage of water vapor from water or liquid contained in said water
container to reach potted plants supported on said upper surface.
Preferably, the planter tray is generally square in shape and has at least
four legs, with one leg located at each corner of said planter tray. The
planter tray also preferably has at least one center leg located near the
center of said planter tray. The center leg has a drain opening therein to
allow liquid on said upper surface to drain into said water container.
The upper surface of said planter tray is preferably formed to provide a
plurality of channels therein to provide additional structural strength to
said upper surface. The planter tray also preferably is formed to provide
a plurality of drainage channels therein with at least one drain opening
in at least one of said drainage channels to allow liquid on said upper
surface to drain into said water container. Preferably, at least some of
said drainage channels extend radially outwardly from the center of said
upper surface of said planter tray and wherein a drain opening is provided
at the center of said upper surface in a drainage channel. In the
preferred embodiment of the invention, at least some of said drainage
channels are also provided at locations parallel to outside perimeter
edges of said upper surface of the planter tray. Preferably, both small
drainage channels and large drainage channels (40) are provided wherein
the small drainage channels empty into the large drainage channels and
wherein said at least one drain opening (42) is provided in at least one
of said large channels.
The planter tray is preferably formed of an injection molded material
comprising at least one of polypropylene, polyethylene, and polystyrene.
The water container is preferably formed of a blow molded material
comprising at least one of polypropylene, polyethylene, and polystyrene.
The water container is integrally formed to include said lower supporting
means and said upper supporting means. Preferably, the upper supporting
means comprises shallow recessed pockets in the bottom wall of said water
container, said shallow recessed pockets are positioned to receive and
support the legs of said planter tray when said planter tray is in an
upper drainage position. The lower supporting means preferably comprises
deep recessed pockets in the bottom wall of said water container, said
deep recessed pockets are positioned to receive and support the legs of
said planter tray when said planter tray is in a lower watering position.
The shallow and deep recessed pockets are preferably located adjacent to
one another.
In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the lower supporting means
comprises first leg retainers on the bottom wall of said water container,
said first leg retainers positioned to receive and support the legs of
said planter tray when said planter tray is in a lower watering position,
and said upper supporting means comprises elevated second leg retainers
extending above the bottom wall of said water container positioned to
receive and support the legs of said planter tray when said planter tray
is in an upper drainage position.
In the preferred embodiment of the invention, a plant watering device
includes:
a generally square planter tray having an upper surface for supporting
potted plants and having five legs depending downwardly from said upper
surface, said legs positioned on the four corners and in the center of
said planter tray, said planter tray is sized and configured to be
received and supported by said legs in a manner whereby said upper surface
is located above a bottom wall of a water container, said upper surface of
said planter tray having a plurality of drainage channels therein with at
least one drain opening in at least one of the said drainage channels to
allow liquid on said upper surface to drain into said water container;
a generally square water container having an open top and closed side walls
and a closed bottom wall which define a reservoir to receive a liquid,
lower supporting means located in the bottom wall of said water container
and located at a first lower elevational position, said lower supporting
means adapted to receive and support the legs of said planter tray such
that the planter tray is positioned in a lower position; and
upper supporting means located in the bottom wall of said water container
located at a second upper elevational position, said upper supporting
means adapted to receive and support the legs of said planter tray such
that the planter tray is positioned in an upper drainage position, wherein
said lower supporting means comprises deep recessed pockets in the bottom
wall of said water container, said deep recessed pockets are positioned to
receive and support the legs of said planter tray when said planter tray
is in a lower watering position, said upper supporting means comprises
shallow recessed pockets in the bottom wall of said water container, said
shallow recessed pockets are positioned to receive and support the legs of
said planter tray when said planter tray is in an upper drainage position,
whereby when said planter tray is manually moved to said lower watering
position, potted plants supported on said planter tray will be partially
submersed in said liquid to allow watering thereof and when said planter
tray is manually moved to said upper drainage position, potted plants
supported on said planter tray will be located completely above said
liquid.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a plant watering device
which is manually movable between an upper drainage position and a lower
watering position.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a simple and
inexpensive device which preferably has only two component parts.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a device which can be
molded from plastic and preferably from recycled plastic materials.
It is an object of the invention to provide a plant watering device which
allows for bottom watering of potted plants.
These and other objects of the present invention will be more fully
explained upon reference to the drawings and the detailed description of
the preferred embodiments of the present invention which follow.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the top side of the planter tray of the
present invention.
FIG. 2 is an isometric view of a portion of the planter tray of FIG. 1
taken on the line II-II of FIG. 1.
FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the bottom side of the planter tray of FIG.
1.
FIG. 4 is an isometric view of the top side of the water container of the
present invention.
FIG. 5 is an isometric view of the bottom side of water container of FIG.
4.
FIG. 6 in an exploded isometric view of the planter tray and water
container of the preferred embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 7 is an isometric view of the plant watering device of the present
invention in its assembled form in an upper drainage position and showing
a potted plant supported on the planter tray.
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing the planter tray in an upper
drainage position.
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing the planter tray in a lower
watering position.
FIG. 10 is an isometric view in exploded form of an alternative upper tray
member and watering container each of which have a generally circular
form.
FIG. 11 is an isometric view of an alternative upper tray member which has
a generally hexagonal form.
FIG. 12 is an isometric view of an alternative watering container which has
a generally hexagonal form.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring specifically to FIGS. 1 through 3, the present invention includes
a planter tray 10 having an upper surface 12 which is adapted to support
potted plants. A plurality of legs 14, 16 depend downwardly from the upper
surface. The planter tray is sized and configured to be received and
supported by the legs in a manner whereby the upper surface 12 is located
above the bottom wall 56 of a water container 50 (See FIG. 4). The planter
tray 10 has a plurality of holes 20 provided in the upper surface 12
thereof. Said holes 20 are sized to provide access to human fingers to
allow positioning and moving of the planter tray 10. Preferably, the
planter tray 10 has a generally square configuration with legs 14
depending downwardly at each corner. At least one center leg 16 located
near the center of the planter tray is also provided to provide additional
support for the potted plants placed on the upper surface 12 of the
planter tray 10.
As best shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the plurality of channels 30, 32, 40 are
formed into the upper surface 12 to provide additional structural strength
to said upper surface. These channels also serve as drainage channels. As
shown, a plurality of drainage channels 30, 40 extend radially outward
from the center of the upper surface 12. As shown in FIG. 3, a drain
opening 44 is provided at the center of the upper surface 12 in a drainage
channel 40. The center leg 16 provides support for the upper surface yet
allows liquid to pass therethrough by the provision of slots 48 in the
bottom of the leg 16. These slots 48 create four extending projections 46
which contact the bottom wall 56 of the water container 50.
In addition to the drainage channels 30, 40 which extend radially outward
from the center of the upper surface, a plurality of additional drainage
channels 32 are provided at locations parallel to the outside perimeter
edges of the upper surface 12 of the planter tray. As best shown in FIG.
3, drainage channels 30 and 32 are small or shallow drainage channels
whereas drainage channels 40 are large and deeper. The small drainage
channels 30, 32 empty into the large drainage channels 40. Water collected
in large drainage channels 40 empties from the upper surface through
opening 44 into the water container 50.
Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the water container 50 is shown. Water
container 50 includes an open top 52, closed side walls 54 and a closed
bottom wall 56 which define a reservoir to receive liquid. The water
container 50 is sized to receive the planter tray 10 in one of two
positions, either an upper drainage position or in a lower watering
position. Preferably, handles 55 are formed in at least two opposite side
walls 54, as shown.
The planter tray shown in FIGS. 1 through 3 includes five legs.
Correspondingly, the water container 50 includes five lower supporting
means 70 and five upper supporting means 80 adapted to receive the legs of
14, 16 of the planter tray 10. As best shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the lower
supporting means 70 are located in the bottom wall 56 of the water
container 50 and are located at a first lower elevational position. The
lower supporting means 70 are adapted to receive and support the legs 14,
16 of the planter tray 10 such that such planter tray is positioned in a
lower watering position.
The upper supporting means 80 are also located in the bottom wall 56 of the
water container 50 but are located at a second upper elevational position.
The upper supporting means 80 are adapted to receive and support the legs
14, 16 of the planter tray 10 such that the planter tray is positioned in
an upper position.
The relative depth of the lower supporting means 70 and the upper
supporting means 80 are designed such that when the planter tray 50 is
manually moved to the lower position, potted plants supported on the
planter tray 10 will be partially submersed in liquid allowing watering
thereof. When the planter tray is manually moved to the upper drainage
position, the potted plants supported on the planter tray 10 will be
located completely above the liquid. The water container 50 is preferably
filled with a liquid consisting of either water or water mixed with plant
food to the fill line 60 (FIG. 4). Both the lower supporting means 70 and
the upper supporting means 80 are integrally formed in the water container
50.
FIG. 6 shows the planter tray 10 as aligned above the water container 50.
Referring to FIGS. 7, 8 and 9, in use, it will be obvious that while a
potted plant P is positioned in the center of the planter tray 10, a user
may simply insert his or her fingers into the openings 20 to manually move
the upper planter tray 10 from an upper drainage position (wherein the
legs 14, 16 are supported by upper supporting means 80 as shown in FIG. 8)
to a lower watering position (wherein said legs 14, 16 are supported in
said lower supporting means 70 as shown in FIG. 9). Once the potted plant
has been allowed to receive a sufficient amount of water W or plant food
by means of water entering the potted plant through one or more holes
provided in the base thereof, the planter tray 10 is then manually moved
back to the upper drainage position as shown in FIG. 8.
It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that rather than have the
lower supporting means provided at a location beneath the bottom wall of
the water container, that such lower supporting means could be provided at
the same elevational position as the bottom of the container. With such an
arrangement the lower supporting means could be provided at an elevational
position essentially coplaner with the bottom wall of the water container
and the upper supporting means would be provided at an elevational
location above the bottom wall of the water container. With this
arrangement, it is possible for the bottom wall of the water container to
be positioned at a lower elevational position allowing for a greater
volume of water with the same height of wall members as exist with the
preferred embodiment.
FIG. 10 shows an alternative form of the present invention which has a
generally circular form. All numbered components have the same numbers as
in the preceding Figures but are designated prime numbers.
FIG. 11 and 12 show an alternative form of the present invention which has
a generally hexagonal form. All numbered components have the same numbers
as in the preceding Figures but are designated double prime numbers.
Various other shapes and forms of the present invention will be obvious to
those skilled in the art.
From the foregoing, a simple, inexpensive yet effective plant watering
device has been shown and described. The device preferably consists of
only two component parts which can be easily formed by injection molding
techniques, preferably from a recycled plastic material. The plant
watering device of the present invention is particularly useful for plants
which rest upon desks or tables. Because the plant watering device is
designed to have a low elevational profile, the device does not detract
from the beauty of the potted plant which it is adapted to support.
While certain presently preferred embodiments of the present invention have
been described and illustrated, it is to be distinctly understood that the
invention is not limited thereto but may be otherwise embodied and
practiced within the scope of the following claims.
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